When you think about school today, you probably imagine going to class, taking notes, and listening to teachers talk about math or history. This kind of education system has only been around for a few hundred years. It started in 17th-century Europe to help people become part of the new market economy during the Industrial Revolution. But if we look back in history, education was very different. Let’s explore what schools were like in ancient times!
In the Ottoman Empire, there was a special school called the Enderun, which some historians consider the first institutionalized school for gifted soldiers known as Janissaries. These students didn’t just learn how to fight; they studied subjects like math, geography, history, law, art, and music in three languages: Arabic, Turkish, and Persian. The school was founded by Mehmed II, who believed that educating a loyal group of elite soldiers and politicians would strengthen his empire.
The Janissaries were mainly Christian or non-Muslim children taken from the Balkans through a system called Devshirme. This system produced elite soldiers and politicians who helped the Ottomans conquer large territories in the 15th and 16th centuries. Besides being great fighters, the Janissaries were also musicians, and their music influenced famous composers like Mozart and Beethoven. However, as they gained too much power, they became a threat to the ruling class, leading to their downfall in the early 1800s.
In Aztec society, education was mandatory for everyone, starting at a young age. Children learned their parents’ trades and studied stories about creation myths and morals. At age 14, noble children attended schools called “calmecac” to become priests, scholars, or healers, while commoners went to “telpochcalli” to learn farming, military skills, or crafts. However, some students who excelled were chosen for sacrifice, which was considered an honorable fate.
About 1,200 years ago, Baghdad was a center of learning under the Abbasid Caliphate. The House of Wisdom, built by Caliph Harun al-Rashid and expanded by his son al-Ma’mun, was a massive library and academy. It played a crucial role in advancing fields like mathematics and medicine. One famous scholar, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, introduced Europe to the Indian numeral system and the concept of algebra, which led to the term “algorithm.”
In ancient Rome, education was widely available, and students learned literature, rhetoric, math, and science. Despite their serious studies, Roman students also enjoyed games and pranks, much like students today. They used slingshots or their hands to throw small objects at each other or their teachers, and food fights were common.
Before 1600, Japan experienced constant warfare, but after Tokugawa Ieyasu united the country, it enjoyed peace for 265 years. During the Edo period, education became more widespread with the emergence of schools called “terakoya.” Initially established by Buddhist temples, these schools later became secular. By the 1800s, there were terakoya in over 60,000 villages, focusing on teaching reading and writing. This helped Japan’s literacy rate rise significantly before the Meiji Restoration in 1868 introduced a more standardized education system.
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Imagine you are a student at the Enderun school in the Ottoman Empire. Create a diary entry describing a day in your life, including the subjects you study and your training as a Janissary. Share your entry with the class and discuss how this education system compares to modern schooling.
Participate in a debate about the Aztec education system. Divide into two groups: one supporting the idea of sacrificial education as an honor and the other opposing it. Use historical facts to support your arguments and consider the cultural context of the Aztecs.
Research a scholar from the House of Wisdom and create a presentation about their contributions to science or mathematics. Explain how their work has influenced modern knowledge and technology. Present your findings to the class.
Design a game that Roman students might have played, incorporating elements of their education and daily life. Create rules and materials for the game, then play it with your classmates. Discuss how games can be both educational and entertaining.
Create a poster or digital presentation promoting literacy in Edo Japan. Highlight the role of terakoya schools and their impact on society. Share your work with the class and discuss the importance of literacy in historical and modern contexts.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Go to class, take notes, doodle in the margins, listen to the teacher drone on about how to solve for x or the history of the Roman Empire. Homework, exams—modern education has really only been like this for a couple of hundred years. The school system as we know it today emerged in 17th-century Europe as a way to cultivate national identity. Coupled with the Industrial Revolution, school became a way for the masses to participate in the new market economy.
However, education throughout history has been wildly different from what it is now. Here’s what schools were like in ancient times:
**Ottoman Janissaries**: Some historians say the Ottoman Empire’s Enderun school was the world’s first institutionalized school for gifted elite soldiers called Janissaries. They learned much more than just how to wield a sword; they studied mathematics, geography, history, law, art, and music in three different languages: Arabic, Turkish, and Persian. The school was founded by Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople and changed its name to Istanbul. He believed that training and educating a loyal group of elite soldiers and politicians was a good way to centralize power and build a stronger empire from within.
The school system consisted of a few prep schools that held about 2,000 students in a given year, with the main campus near Topkapi Palace, which only 300 of the top students could enter. The Janissaries were made up of Christian or other non-Muslim children captured from the Balkans, a recruitment process known as the Devshirme system. Over time, this system produced elite soldiers and politicians who were fiercely loyal to the Sultan, aiding the Ottomans in conquering vast territories throughout the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Janissaries, apart from being elite fighters and multilingual, also learned to play musical instruments, which they showcased during battles. Their music was so influential that it even impacted composers like Mozart and Beethoven. However, as the Janissaries gained too much power, the ruling class became concerned. In the early 1800s, after a series of reforms, the Janissaries mutinied. The Ottoman forces suppressed the revolt, resulting in the deaths of many Janissaries and the exile of the survivors.
**Sacrificial Education**: Imagine going to school for years, learning geometry, astronomy, history, and ethics, only to be sacrificed to the gods instead of taking a final exam. This was sometimes the case in Aztec society, where human blood was believed necessary to ensure the sun rose each day. Education was mandatory for both nobility and commoners, starting from around four or five years old. Aztec children were homeschooled, learning their parents’ trades and studying an oral tradition of stories that included creation myths and moral guidelines.
At age 14, children of nobles attended schools called “calmecac,” where they learned to be priests, scholars, or healers. Commoners went to “telpochcalli,” where they learned farming, military training, or crafts. However, students who excelled were sometimes chosen for sacrifice, a fate that was seen as honorable and tied to their noble lineage.
**The House of Wisdom**: About 1,200 years ago, Baghdad was a global intellectual powerhouse under the Abbasid Caliphate. The city was home to the House of Wisdom, built by Caliph Harun al-Rashid and expanded by his son, al-Ma’mun. By 829, it had become a massive library and academy, contributing significantly to advancements in various fields, including mathematics and medicine.
One notable scholar was Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, whose work introduced Europe to the Indian numeral system and the concept of algebra. His book, which explained mathematical operations using this system, eventually led to the term “algorithm.”
**Roman Education**: Ancient Rome was known for its excellent school system, where education was widely available. Students learned subjects like literature, rhetoric, math, and science. Despite the seriousness of their studies, Roman students also engaged in games and pranks, similar to modern students. They often used slingshots or their hands to launch small projectiles at each other or their teachers, and food fights were not uncommon.
**Edo Japan**: Before 1600, Japan was in a state of near-perpetual war, but after Tokugawa Ieyasu united the country, it experienced peace for 265 years. During the Edo period, education became more widespread, with schools called “terakoya” emerging. These schools were initially established by Buddhist temples but later became secular institutions. By the 1800s, there were terakoya in over 60,000 villages.
The curriculum varied by school, focusing on teaching students how to read and write. Students practiced writing family names and places, gradually expanding their knowledge of geography and history.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, terakoya were replaced by a more standardized education system, but during their existence, Japan’s literacy rate rose significantly.
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a respectful tone throughout.
School – A place where students go to learn about various subjects. – The first public school in the United States was established in Boston in 1635.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – Education in ancient Greece was highly valued and focused on philosophy, arts, and sciences.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Studying history helps us understand how past societies, systems, ideologies, governments, cultures, and technologies were built, how they operated, and how they have changed.
Janissaries – Elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan’s household troops and bodyguards. – The Janissaries were known for their discipline and were a crucial part of the Ottoman military system.
Aztec – A member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. – The Aztec civilization is known for its rich mythology and cultural heritage, including the construction of the city of Tenochtitlán.
Wisdom – The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. – Ancient philosophers like Socrates and Confucius are often studied for their wisdom and insights into human nature and society.
Rome – The capital city of Italy, which was also the center of the Roman Empire. – Ancient Rome was known for its architectural innovations, such as the development of concrete and the construction of aqueducts.
Japan – An island country in East Asia known for its unique culture and history. – Japan’s history includes the era of the samurai, who were skilled warriors serving the shogunate.
Literacy – The ability to read and write. – The spread of literacy during the Renaissance was greatly aided by the invention of the printing press.
Empire – An extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress. – The British Empire was once the largest empire in history, covering territories on every continent.
